EAST Lancashire will finally get its first husky training track later this year after a 16-month battle.

Bosses at Sibes and Sled Dogs Husky Welfare have won unanimous approval for the project which will see the track built on land next to Barrowford Locks.

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The idea, which will cost up to £8,000, was given the green light by councillors on Pendle Council’s Barrowford and Western Parishes Committee who agreed to change the use of the land to a site for exercising dogs.

Established three years ago, the Nelson-based rescue centre has rehomed 300 husky dogs to date and has around 50 in its charge.

Former builder John Duxbury, 54, who set up the organisation, is also planning to sell his house to pay towards a £500,000 kennel for the centre.

The plan for the track includes a car park, a 1.8m wide exercise track and an off-lead compound with 1.8m high fencing. It will give owners the chance to ride rigs or scooters pulled by their husky at speeds exceeding 25mph.

Mr Duxbury said: “I’m ecstatic that the plan was given 100 per cent approval. It will make a huge difference for the rescue centre and the dogs themselves. It’s such a unique place and that’s why it has taken so long to get approval. Councillors did not have anything else to compare it to.

“We have had a lot of donations which have helped with the funding and EDF Energy gave us £4,000 worth of fencing which was great.

“We have already spent £1,500 on surveys for things like noise to prove that it will be ok for the local area. I’m looking at selling my house to pay for the new kennels which we desperately need.

“It’s quite a commitment but that’s the sort of thing you have to be prepared to do when you are running an organisation like this. You have to change your lifestyle for the dogs because they will not do it for you.”

Six letters of objection were sent before the decision was made, citing increased traffic on unsuitable roads, noise from the dogs, loss of wildlife and concerns about the disposal of dog waste. But councillors were recommended to approve the application with conditions.